Jack Marriott scored in Wrexham's League One opener against Wycombe on Saturday
Sheffield United fought back to again avoid a Carabao Cup upset at the hands of ambitious Wrexham.
The Blades, who survived a scare in two FA Cup meetings with the north Wales club two seasons ago, were given a fright when Will Boyle put the visitors ahead.
But goals from Auston Trusty, Louie Marsh and Anis Slimane – as well as an own goal from Lewis Brunt – gave the Championship Blades a deserved win.
Seb Revan did pull one back in injury time for the League One visitors, a goal that sparked a goalmouth clash between players.
But the victory justified Chris Wilder’s decision to make wholesale changes, with striker Rhian Brewster doing his best to impress but again being frustrated in front of goal.
Brewster, a £20m signing from Liverpool in 2020, has not scored since October 2022 and went close with two first-half chances.
And they looked to have proved costly when centre-back Boyle turned home James McClean’s 30th-minute corner, the former Republic of Ireland international the only survivor from Saturday’s opening day win over Wycombe.
Yet Trusty powerfully headed home from a corner five minutes later, goalline technology ruling out James Jones’ attempts to keep it out.
United's breakthrough came 12 minutes after the restart, Brewster providing the trickery and the shot and debutant Brunt the unfortunate final touch.
Brewster then missed the chance to score from the spot when Luke Bolton felled Slimane, only for the former England youth cap to see his shot saved and youngster Marsh pounce on the rebound.
Slimane added a fourth late on, while Revan – on his first start since moving from Aston Villa – was rewarded for a busy performance in injury time.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure everyone of a Sheffield United persuasion did as well.
"They had to stand up to it physically and mentality, and I thought we were controlled all evening.
"We had adversity going behind to a set play, that gave them an advantage, but afterwards I thought we were excellent.
"I'm a bit disappointed Rhian didn't stick his penalty away, all of us were willing he did, but he was outstanding again."
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales:
“It was a tough game, we made a lot of changes so there was always going to be a disjointed feel to us because we pieced the team together with players who needed to get minutes.
"We got the first goal but their first goal should never have been allowed, how the referee hasn’t seen the block is beyond belief. We know they are clever on corners but when it’s as blatant as that I expect the officials to see it.
"If we had kept the lead until half-time it could have been a different night for us, but goals change games.
"It’s a good work out for us, we never like getting beat in any game, but we will take the lessons from it.”
